There are those who ascend one step at a time and there are those who skip steps.

Both styles for tackling new challenges are equally valid – but not if you're 23-year-old Kate Fischbeck.

A University of Irvine graduate, Fischbeck doesn't just skip steps. She leaps.

A few months ago, Fischbeck entered her first ultra-marathon, an event longer than a regular marathon's 26.2 miles. Most ultra-runners start with a 50K or a 50-miler. Fischbeck's first ultra-distance race covered 101.4 miles.

Fischbeck was the fastest women.

On Sunday, Fischbeck ran the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach. She placed second in her division, in 3 hours, 18 minutes.

Understand, Fischbeck doesn't have a professional coach, isn't sponsored and has a regular full-time job. Her secret? Well, Fischbeck has three secrets to success: Training hard, confidence – and understanding what it takes to be a champion.

That means suffering. Her motto, and it's shared by others, is, "Pain is temporary, winning is forever."

UNDER THE WIRE

In high school, Fischbeck played soccer and ran track and cross country. She was mostly a middle of the pack kind of runner. But she burned with passion to push herself.

As a 17-year-old high school junior, Fischbeck and a friend entered the San Diego Rock 'N Roll marathon. Their supposedly tender age meant they had to sign an agreement stating they wouldn't try to run faster than a 4:30 finish. But the pace felt like they were being reigned in.

They looked at each other and said what the heck. Fischbeck crossed the finish line in 4:20.

Before Sunday's marathon, which ended before the Super Bowl began, Fischbeck and I shared a laugh about the rule. She explained, "I don't like being told I can't do something. I'm very determined. I'm really motivated."

Her tone was soft. But her explanation was hard-core.

A few years after that first marathon, she returned to San Diego and cut 12 minutes off her old time.

But Fischbeck wanted a bigger challenge. She turned toward triathlon. She could have started with a sprint-distance, an Olympic distance, even a half-Ironman.

Instead, Fischbeck entered a full Ironman – a race that includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike race and a full marathon.

At age 20 in Louisville, Ky., she completed her first triathlon and her first Ironman in 15 hours and 26 minutes – well before the race's cutoff time.

Then Fischbeck, who works at Live Wire Energy in Anaheim, returned to her first love, running. On her blog, Fischbeck writes, running "makes me feel free, and that I have some kind of control over where my life will take me."

Soon, she was running marathons fast enough to qualify for the legendary Boston Marathon. But she knew there was something out there larger than Boston.

After her 101-mile race, Kate Fischbeck celebrated with her crew. From left: brother Tucker Fischbeck, Mandi Nilsen, Daniel Munoz, Fischbeck, boyfriend Ryan Kennedy, father Tom Fischbeck, Karen Kennedy, Mike Kennedy. COURTESY OF KATE FISCHBECK
After falling and injuring her arm and knee, Kate Fischbeck of Yorba Linda hits the medical tent at Arizona's Javalina Jundred. She went on to win the race in the women's division. TEXT BY DAVID WHITING, COURTESY OF KATE FISCHBECK
One of Kate Fischbeck's crew members, Daniel Munoz, prepres to hand her fuel during her third lap of Arizona's Javelina Jundred. Fischbeck's father, Tom, is in the white T-shirt in back taking a photo. COURTESY OF KATE FISCHBECK
During the Javelina Jundred, Kate Fischbeck lost all her toenails. Here, boyfriend Ryan Kennedy (left) helps Fischbeck change socks while she eats during a pit stop. TEXT BY DAVID WHITING, COURTESY KATE FISCHBECK

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.